Essay: 21st Century Zealot

Mona Eltahawy · 11 Oct 2026

Mona Eltahawy did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
It is easier to see fascists and zealots when they do not look like you.

Their wordsThank you, Pete Hegseth, for so perfectly embodying what I’ve long said: it’s easier to see fascists and zealots when they don’t look like you.
Our reading
Executions are barbaric, whether public or behind closed doors.

Their wordsExecutions, public or behind closed doors are barbaric, anywhere they take place.
Our reading
The US death penalty should have been abolished long ago and is inherently racist in its use.

Their wordsThe death penalty which should have been abolished years ago in this country is inherently racist in the ways it is used.

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